The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1887-12-01
TIE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
THE ANNUAL STATEMENT o. THE
AFFAIRS OF S FATE.

| Suggestions Concerning Different Matters
of Interest and Importance SO tho Com
| monwealth.
The usual annual message of the
Governor was read to the Legislature
Tuesday. The topics discussed in the
document are as follows
THE STATE DEBT.
The outstanding debt of the State is
Sc, 400, 900. Of this amount $277, 900
consists of the estimated validity in those
| bonds issued between 1868 and 1872 and
of the ante bellum bonds which have not
yet been consolidated under the Act of
1873. There is every reason to believe
that large proportion of these old
bonds have been lost or destroyed, and
that the State will never be called upon
to redeem them. The Comptroller Gen
eral reports that but few 0; these bonds
are being funded and recommends that
limit be put to the time when they may
be exchanged, except by special legislG-
| bion. AS our whole State debt must be
readiusted in 1893, the date Of it's ma
turity, the Governor regards this recon-
men ,Iation as sound policy and COM
mel 3 it to the consideration Of the
Leg laturr
During thu past year theSinking Fund
| Commission has cancelled $32, ,5l750 of
Deficiency bonds, and will soon take up
about $4,000 morC-lcaving about
$4O0, 900 of these bonds to be met at
maturity. The Governor recommends
that the Slate borrow that sum, ut 4 to
A per cent, to take up these bonds. lie
also recommends the ultimate funding
of the whole debt at per cent.
| FORFEITED LANDS.
by reference to the report of the Gem
missioners of the Sinking Fund il will
be found that there were Oh the forfeited
land list at the ond of the fiscal year
ending October 81, 1856, 954, 237 acres
That during the present fiscal yct',, end
ing October 81, 1887, new forfeiturCs
100, ,O45 acres, the whole amounting in
the aggregate to l, ,O54, 2S2 acres.
| During the present fiscal year Is, 298
acres Of land have been sold or redeemed
and 94, 131 acres have been stricken from
| the forfeited list as erroneous entries,
and still there remains on this list Il net
acreage OF 914, ,S53 acres. WhilS3 The
foregoing exhibit shows that the acreago
of land on the forfeited list at the pi eSent
| time is 80, ,3S3 acres less than at the same
time last year, it will be seen on cXami-
! nation that this decrease is not due TO
| the fact that taxes have been more
promptly paid, but to the activity and
efficiency of the Land Department in
ctlecting sales and rcdcmptions OF for
! feited lands and i'll discovering and
, eliminating erroneous fOrfeitures that
had crept into the forfeited list from
1868 to 1886. The fact that 100, ,0I5
acres of new forfeitures have been in
CURED during the present fiscal year is Il
matter OF serious moment to the State,
and a great injustice to those citizens
whose patriotism and sense Of duty con-
strain them to pay their taxes.
| 70 enact law that Will abatp this
great and growing evil is matter, there
fore, for the most earnest consideration
of the Legislature.
The Governor then reviews the course
Of Legislation upon this Notwithstanding
that the effect of legislation and Of the
decisions of the Courts has been 20 III
crease forfeitmes. The Governor recon-
mends legislation to give purchaser OF
forfeited lands good title, and to enable
the Sinking Fund Commission to collect
| through the Courts, back taxes now IN
paid. The new law is suggested us an
addition to, and not substitute for, tho
means now afforded to the Commission
to effect sales OF redemptions.
EDUCATION.
Touching the public schools tho Gov
ernor refers to the report Of the Superin-
tendent of Education, and suggests q
general law to authorize districts to levy
local taxes, together with such other
measures as will lengthen the school term
and increase the general efficiency Of the
schools.
The South Carolina College is shown
to be III q prosperous condition, both us
regards the number of students and the
general efficiency of the institution. The
Governor calls attention to the statement
of the Trustees that "its true development
should be in the direction of University
methods and work." and commends to
the g. leral Assembly their scheme to be
suhmn ed, "For the reorganization OF the
institution Oh. University basis"
The CITADEL Academy is reported to be
in excellent condition, and both gradu-
ates and cadets making q fine record for
themselves aud for the State. Anticipate
ing the need of large accommodations,
the Governor calls attention TO the States
! claim against the United States GOYcIn.
ment, for use of the Academy buildings
and for the value of the portion destroyed
by fire while i'll such use. He "sincerely
trusts that the present Congress will &C
knowledge the justice Of the claim and
order its payment"
Clahin University, for colored pupils,
IS reported i'll satisfactory condition
The same report is made OF the institu
ton for the deaf, dumb and blind a
Cedar Springs.
, THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
The Governor reviews the operation,
of the State Department of Agriculture
and concludes:
"The statistical report of the Depart
ment shows an increase over last year il
the amount and value of tho crops of tn,
l State. The seasons were generally favor
V able, and the farmers have rcaliHoi morr
+ abundant haryests. The cotton crop vii
8 exceed tho crop of 1856 by IS, III bales
| while the yield Of corn wilt exceed Jh,
t. product OF any year Of which we hav
[ record.
= "rhe Department is now in thorough
s working order, and is accomplishing
/ great good for the State. In addition t.
= the duties which have been briefly alludc,
t to above, the Commissioner is CONSTANT,
o occupied in answering inquiries from
q other States and foreign countries rolat